# How many pills? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392 "2024-02-10T14:02:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/21 "2024-02-10T19:55:50Z")
> [@ryan](#): > > 23 prescription pills, one allergy pill, insulin as needed and 2 inhalers daily. that’s what I call the greatest comeback since Elvis in '68 welcome back! ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/22 "2024-02-10T21:29:53Z")
> [@chela](#): > > 1. Do I need to switch docs ? 0 - you should probably avoid my doc. j (Actually 0 is not quite true. I take vit D in the winter when I remember.) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/23 "2024-02-10T21:34:38Z")
Lamotrigine for seizures and depression Olanzapine for PTSD/anxiety Ativan as needed for anxiety Vyvanse for ADHD Monophasic birth control Arnuity Ellipta for asthma prevention Albuterol emergency asthma inhaler I don’t think I could live happily without all of these. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/24 "2024-02-10T21:39:34Z")
I can’t even. It’s just too much some days. Got a new antiviral yesterday. They’re at the point they’re throwing everything at me. 😑 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/25 "2024-02-10T21:48:10Z")
So far, only 1 blood pressure pill (spironolactone) each morning, which is also supposed to be helpful for thinning hair. I watch my weight and eat well, but don’t get much exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/26 "2024-02-10T21:52:25Z")
1 for anxiety 1 statin for cholesterol 1 anti-steroid anti-inflammatory for plantar fasciitis ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/27 "2024-02-10T22:30:23Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Is this what I have to look forward to when I get older: talking about the medications I’m taking? Don’t even bring up surgeries! We’ll be here all damn day. I’m up to 6 at night and 4 in the morning, plus one before dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/28 "2024-02-10T22:41:20Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Is this what I have to look forward to when I get older: talking about the medications I’m taking? No, Thudlow, of course not. Talking about medications is secondary. You’ll spend far more time talking about the various conditions and illnesses that _require_ the medications - how bad it hurts, what makes it worse, when it started, whom you’re seeing for it, what surgeries you’re contemplating, how it seemed to get better yesterday after you sat for a spell, but then flared up again after you tried to do the dishes . . . etc. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/29 "2024-02-10T22:47:38Z")
It’s funny how you get a satisfying hit of some brain chemical when you describe in detail about your conditions and what hoops you gotta jump through to manage them. And kinda sad. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/30 "2024-02-10T22:49:08Z")
> [@Nyvaak](#): > > You’ll spend far more time talking about the various conditions and illnesses that _require_ the medications - how bad it hurts, what makes it worse, when it started, whom you’re seeing for it, what surgeries you’re contemplating, how it seemed to get better yesterday after you sat for a spell, but then flared up again after you tried to do the dishes . . . etc. The organ recital. (I think I learned that here. ) ---
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/31 "2024-02-10T22:50:15Z")
Ninja’d more or less by InternetLegend. For the record, I’m at 7 to 12 pills, depending. A.M. a statin and two meds for GERD, plus Vitamin D supplementation. P.M. the same two GERD meds That’s with no migraine. If I get hit with an absolutely intractable headache, add up to about 5 pills depending on duration and severity. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/32 "2024-02-10T22:51:14Z")
Six pills per day, one of which is prescription (for blood pressure). Aside from a multivitamin, the others (four) were called for as a consequence of lab results. Potassium, calcium/vitamin D, iron, and B-complex. If this is unwelcome, feel free to have a mod remove it, but: I strongly dislike the orientation of modern medicine being to make sure everyone is on a large number of prescriptions. I have just one only by dint of resisting other suggestions. It’s part of the financial structure of the medical system. Big pharma wants everyone on lots of pills, so doctors follow along. Yes, I do realize that many modern medications have worked miracles for people with different conditions. I don’t begrudge that. I just don’t like the fact that American (at least) medicine is the handmaiden of the pharmaceutical industry. (End of rant!) ---
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/33 "2024-02-10T22:51:27Z")
And you are SO right, Beck. Funny and kinda sad. Very. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/34 "2024-02-10T22:55:01Z")
Blood pressure meds are very important. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/35 "2024-02-10T23:14:34Z")
In my case, I don’t have any conditions that affect my life . . . now. But not treating them early can lead to serious issues in the long run. Most are also vitamins. I’m low on some of them and the pills fix my levels. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/36 "2024-02-11T00:24:29Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Is this what I have to look forward to when I get older: talking about the medications I’m taking? 20 years ago we had threads about sex positions. Things happen. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/37 "2024-02-11T00:58:56Z")
And I don’t see anyone mentioning Viagra or Cialis. Whats wrong with you people? Does taking more pills make you mor viral? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/38 "2024-02-11T02:13:00Z")
I take 6 every morning (a statin, two blood pressure pills, a blood thinner, metformin, and a calcium pill large enough that I could break it in half and write on a blackboard with it), all with prescriptions (I assume the calcium is actually OTC, but a prescription avoids sales tax). In the evening, I take 3 more (a non-statin cholesterol and repeats of the blood thinner and calcium). Then I put a salve in each eye for faulty meibonium glands. These are oil producing glands on the underside of the eyelids and are blocked. In addition, every Sunday, I take a tiny pill that is 10000 units of vitamin D. I used to take a second metformin every evening, but when my A1C dropped to 4.6% they dropped the second one and it rose to 5.5%. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/39 "2024-02-11T03:12:22Z")
I’m 62. I take thyroid, vitamin D and OTC allergy pill in the morning, Melatonin and 1/2 an ambien at night. Gummy multivitamin when I remember. StG ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392/40 "2024-02-11T03:38:11Z")
Two multi-vitamins, a Vitamin D pill, an aspirin, and four pills to manage diabetes symptoms, so eight total. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-pills/997392.md?page=3)